St Wilfrid’s Hospice Eastbourne volunteers are invited to royal carol service

Five staff and volunteers from St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Eastbourne were thrilled to represent the organisation at The Princess of Wales’s ‘Together at Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey. They were invited as the hospice is a patronage of Her Majesty The Queen.

Doctor Charlotte Harrison, Physiotherapist Noor, Communications Officer Jenny Griffiths, and Volunteers Valerie Cooper and Dina Holland attended the fifth annual event. This year, the theme was coming together to celebrate the connections that shape our lives.

The Christmas theme could be seen all around, with several huge wreaths, made by celebrities including Dame Mary Berry on behalf of the Royal Horticultural Society, Christmas trees and twinkly lights inside and outside the Abbey. Before the main service, guests enjoyed performances by young artists from Future Talent, a music charity co-founded by the Duchess of Kent, who died in September.

Princess Catherine, who wrote a letter to each guest with a message of gratitude and hope, spent time chatting to some of them before the service. Prince William, George, Charlotte, Louis and other members of the royal family also joined the service.

Words and music filled the Abbey with readings by Prince William, actors Kate Winslet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Babatunde Aléshé and Joe Locke. Musical performances were given by Dan Smith, Zak Abel, Griff, Fisherman’s Friends, Katie Melua and Paul Gladstone Reid. Youth group Platinum Performers also treated guests to a dance routine down the aisles.

Jenny said: “It was a wonderful occasion to be a part of, and we were all delighted to be chosen to represent the hospice. Despite the Abbey being huge, the soft lighting and gentle music made it feel more intimate. We even had a couple of opportunities during the service to light our own candles. The highlight for me was seeing Princess Catherine when she did her walkabout, but the whole event was unforgettable.”

The Carol Service will be shown on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

St Wilfrid’s Hospice provides high-quality care and support for people across Eastbourne, Seaford, Hailsham, Uckfield, Heathfield (and all points between) with life-limiting illnesses.